Envisioned in 2014, this gallery allows the museum to feature drawings, prints such as engravings and lithographs, paintings on paper, and photographs by contemporary and historic artists, and to share more of its collection, as well as bring in loans that tell the rich history of creativity in Vermont and the larger region.

Works on Paper

Dan Shapiro: “Living the Print” 1949-1969 On view at the Bennington Museum May 16 – August 9

"I have been seeking "non- success" as a means of purifying myself and my art..."

Dan Shapiro, Artist (1920-1982)

On view through August 9 is "Dan Shapiro: Living the Print, 1949-1969" an exhibition of thirty-six etchings, engravings, relief prints, and lithographs created during Shapiro’s years at Bennington College and his early years at University of California, Davis. This is only the second exhibition in the museum’s new Works on Paper Gallery, inaugurated in February. A gallery talk will be given by Robert Wolterstorff, Executive Director of Bennington Museum and curator of the exhibition during an opening on May 21 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public. An exhibition featuring Dan Shapiro’s paintings will be on view at Usdan Gallery on Bennington College Campus from June 17 through August 30. Usdan will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 noon to 4:00 pm.

"Channeling is the belief that a person's body has been taken over by a spirit for the purpose of imparting wisdom and bringing about a conscious transformation. I feel that Anna Moses guided my hands in an effort to inform and educate people to the risks that lay ahead for the American rural landscape." Linda Finch, Artist

On view in Bennington Museum’s Regional Artists Gallery from May 9 through July 26, is Channeling Moses: Fracking Paintings by Linda Finch. “The naïve style of Grandma Moses is a perfect genre for storytelling. These paintings are a step by step journey that leads you through the gas pain process; some have secret messages within.” states the artist.

Parmalee and Limric Galleries

"Inward Adorings of the Mind: Grassroots Art" with highlights of folk art from the extensive Bennington Museum collection and outsider and visionary art from the collection of Gregg Blasdel and Jennifer Koch in Burlington.

Grassroots Art brings together an eclectic selection of objects--ranging from textiles, ceramics and weathervanes to drawings, paintings and sculpture--created by individuals with little or no formal training in art and working outside the framework of the traditional art market. Drawing on the Bennington Museum's renowned collections of folk art, including the world's largest public collections of paintings by revered 20th- century folk artist "Grandma" Moses and Bennington Pottery, and the Blasdel/Koch collection of outsider art, including works by Jesse Howard, Mose Tolliver, and Joseph Yoakum, this exhibition highlights thematic continuities amongst artworks created by everyday people from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day.

The Bennington Museum was founded as the Bennington Historical Association in 1852 to celebrate Bennington's Colonial past and, more specifically, to commemorate the historic Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington in 1777. Over the years our mission has expanded to preserve and interpret the rich heritage of southern Vermont and neighboring regions as well as providing a venue for visual and performing arts that enriches our community and our world.

Over time the museum acquired paintings and sculpture by Vermont artists, children's toys, maps, books, and military artifacts. We are proud of our extensive collection including vintage portraits of early settlers by Ammi Phillips; our unique Ralph Earl townscape; a Windsor writing-arm chair owned by Ira Allen, a founder of Vermont and author of the State's constitution; and the world's largest collection of Bennington pottery. Read more...